Albert, the City of Pleasure, lived up to its name, famous for its countless diversions.
In the east, a collection of inns and restaurants serving the finest food.
In the west, a red-light district luring travelers into its hedonistic embrace.
In the south, a sprawl of shops and a slave market, all designed to ignite the urge to purchase.
In the north, gambling dens where one could wager money—or something more—in pursuit of a single, life-changing score.
Yet none of these could be called the true heart of Albert.
While all were vital parts of the city's infrastructure, there was one establishment that was paramount, one that could never be allowed to vanish.
It was the castle, situated in the heart of the city, where its lord resided.
Given that the city of Albert was itself encircled by massive walls, the structure of a castle built within its center seemed rather strange.
No, it was more than just strange—it was intimidating.
The area around the castle was densely packed with military facilities, including barracks for the guards.
The very presence of soldiers wielding sharp, gleaming weapons and clad in fine armor was a powerful deterrent.
Even the most ruthless outlaws, who wouldn't hesitate to commit heinous crimes elsewhere and would dismiss the regular army of a typical domain as mere trifles, had no choice but to bow their heads meekly before such military might.
All the while claiming they weren't scared in the least—they were simply observing the proper etiquette as 'guests' in a city with so much to offer.
It was a claim that would have left their victims, who had shed tears of blood because of their crimes, utterly speechless, wondering since when scoundrels like them had ever cared for etiquette.
"Impressive."
Yet, even faced with this army of terror, Colombo was not intimidated.
It wasn't because he underestimated the power held by the city's lord.
Quite the opposite. It was precisely because he held it in such high regard that Colombo felt something other than fear.
"How much is all that worth?"
Greed.
That was the true nature of the emotion swelling in Colombo's chest.
An army is, in and of itself, a money-devouring beast.
Every aspect of a soldier's life—their food, their clothing, their lodging—costs money. And the higher the quality of the army, the more astronomical the expense.
Possessing an army that could dismiss the forces of an ordinary domain as insignificant meant possessing financial power on a scale that no ordinary domain could hope to match.
And that, too, was only natural.
After all, the City of Pleasure was a paradise for criminals, and at the same time, a secret market favored by the elites of various nations.
Few places were better suited for trading goods too… sensitive for official channels.
"Magnificent! Truly incredible!"
Like a child with a limited vocabulary, Colombo repeated the same words over and over, his admiration ceaseless.
That was how excited Colombo was.
It was an open secret that the lord of this city had once been a bandit himself.
So what was to say that Colombo, a fellow bandit, couldn't achieve the same success?
No, even if such a law existed, he wouldn't care.
For he was an outlaw, a criminal, a bandit.
And clutched in Colombo's hand was the 'product' that would bring him one step closer to his dream.
"Hey, young lady. What do you think? Back when Friedel was still whole, not the wreck it is today. Were its soldiers comparable to these? Not quite? Or were they even more impressive?"
"…"
The 'product' he called 'young lady' simply glared at him, her lips sealed.
The 'product' was a girl with brilliant golden hair.
Because of her youth, she was more cute than beautiful, but she showed the potential to one day be hailed as a great beauty.
Unlike the other slaves captured by the Colombo bandits, the girl wore an exceptionally ornate dress, and there was even a subtle touch of makeup on her face.
It was the result of Colombo having dragged her through various shops, dolling her up, right after their arrival in the city.
Of course, the girl expressed no gratitude for it.
Colombo's intention—to enhance her 'market value'—was painfully obvious.
Colombo gave a faint smile, as if finding the girl's silent defiance endearing.
"Hey, I'm asking you a question. How did your domain compare to this place back when it was whole? Or do you plan to answer only after the servants we captured with you start screaming?"
The girl gritted her teeth, then answered with a venomous glare.
"Don't you dare compare it to this city of criminals. If my father were still here, your pathetic band of thieves would have been wiped out the moment you set foot on our lands."
The faces of the nearby bandits hardened, but Colombo simply laughed in amusement.
"Hahaha! Is that so? Excellent! That's wonderful news! It's true, we had a hell of a time bringing you here. I'd heard the place was already in ruins and thought it would be an easy job, but we took quite a beating. If that's how it was even after losing its lord and having its main forces wiped out, well, it must have been truly magnificent in its heyday."
As he said that, the smile never left Colombo's lips.
Disgusted, the girl asked.
"What's so amusing?"
"How could I not be?"
Colombo said, his voice brimming with excitement.
"A place that powerful, that well-defended… it means a member of the lord's bloodline has never been captured and sold as a slave. Not once. If the domain's strength hadn't been crippled by your foolish father, its heir would never have been taken by a common thief like me. That makes you an exceptionally rare and valuable product, young lady. And I managed to get my hands on you before any other bastard could. Now tell me, how could I not be laughing?"
There wasn't a shred of hostility in Colombo's eyes as he gazed at the girl.
Realizing that, the girl felt a chill run down her spine.
That wasn't the way a person looks at another person.
Faced with a gaze that saw her as nothing more than an 'object,' the girl involuntarily averted her eyes.
Colombo stared vacantly at the trembling girl, her head bowed. Then, as if he'd lost interest, he turned his gaze forward and quickened his pace.
Unlike the castle exterior, where soldiers were numerous and displayed as if for show, the interior was sparsely guarded.
But as if in inverse proportion to their numbers, their equipment grew increasingly ornate, and Colombo's men had to make a conscious effort not to cower.
At times like this, they couldn't help but envy their leader's nerve, as he whistled and took in the sights like a tourist.
"His Lordship is currently meeting with another guest. Please wait a moment."
Colombo's confident stride came to a halt before the door of the reception hall, their appointed meeting place.
"Another guest? But we arrived precisely on time."
Colombo grumbled, but the retainer with the gray mustache maintained his placid demeanor.
"An unexpected guest has caused a slight disruption to the schedule. I will show you to another room. We ask for your patience."
"Who is it?"
"I am not at liberty to say."
"So, you've unilaterally broken our appointment, and now you can't even give me a proper reason? Is that what you're telling me?"
"I apologize, but there is nothing more I can tell you."
It was a polite yet firm answer.
The men Colombo brought with him scowled, their brutish faces twisting, but the retainer's expression remained perfectly calm.
Colombo understood.
The lord of this castle was a grand master in Colombo's line of work. A direct retainer to such a man would have surely weathered his fair share of bloody conflicts. It was only natural he wouldn't flinch at such petty threats.
But, understanding was one thing, and business was another.
Colombo was here to make a deal, not to pay tribute, and he couldn't allow himself to be slighted from the very beginning.
"I'm a busy man myself, so I'm afraid I can't wait. Relay a message to your lord for me."
"I'm sorry, but—"
"Don't give me any of that 'I'm sorry, but that will be difficult' crap. Or should we just turn back? I'm sure there are plenty of other buyers for our little lady."
The retainer's perpetually calm face twitched.
Seeing the flicker of displeasure in the man's eyes, Colombo grinned.
He'd been itching for a chance to wipe that dignified smirk off his face anyway. Just because the old bastard was a fellow thief who'd gotten on in years and landed a respectable title, he acted all high and mighty.
The retainer hesitated, shot Colombo a glare, and then entered the reception hall.
And a moment later.
"He says you may enter."
"Ah, yes. Thanks for your trouble."
Colombo patted the retainer's shoulder—pat, pat—as if he were a mere underling, and then strode past him.
He could feel a sharp glare on the back of his head, but he found even that enjoyable.
Colombo surveyed the inside of the reception hall.
Five guards, standing near the walls, glaring at Colombo and his men.
One old man with stark white hair, sitting in the seat of honor with a gentle smile.
And finally, one black-haired woman, on the cusp between girlhood and womanhood.
'Ha. So even an old geezer is still a man, eh?'
Colombo whistled inwardly.
He'd wondered what kind of important guest could have possibly made the lord stand him up, but seeing a beauty like this, he figured he would have done the same, even in his old age.
"Greetings, my lord. Apologies for interrupting what looks like a pleasant time, but this junior of yours isn't exactly sitting idle, you know."
"Haha, think nothing of it. Overflowing ambition is a privilege of the young. If anything, I should be the one to apologize for not keeping our appointment."
The lord's tone was gentle, and he exuded an air of benevolence.
To Colombo, the whole display was laughable.
He was well aware that the old man before him was a vicious criminal who had taken advantage of a war decades ago to turn several domains into seas of fire.
"Well then, Miss Dorothea. Would you mind yielding the floor for a moment to our impatient friend here? This won't take long."
"It makes no difference to me."
"Heh heh, thank you for your consideration."
The lord's gaze moved past Colombo to the girl at his side.
A gasp of admiration escaped the lord's lips as he took in the girl's brilliant golden hair and violet eyes.
"Heh heh, so you really brought a lady from the Lion Duke's bloodline. Colombo, are you not afraid of the consequences? Even if she's from a branch family and not the main line, you must know that name carries no small amount of weight."
Colombo shrugged.
"You're saying some strange things, senior. Even a ten-year-old knows who has a more powerful family: a peasant girl from the sticks, or a noble girl from the capital. But if you ask a thief to pick one, he'll obviously choose the latter. Am I wrong?"
The lord burst into a hearty laugh.
"Exactly! If you're going to commit a crime, you might as well aim for the bigger prize. Of course, if you cross the line, you'll end up dead with a snap—"
"—but if you survive, you can make a killing. And if your luck holds, you get to live high on the hog, being called 'my lord' like you are. Am I right?"
The lord began to roar with laughter, clutching his belly, and Colombo burst out laughing as well.
The girl's face turned deathly pale.
To the girl, both the lord and Colombo seemed completely unhinged.
And now, the girl's fate rested in the hands of those two madmen.
After a long bout of laughter, the lord beckoned with a finger. One of his guards placed a heavy wooden box on the table.
Colombo, too, instead of touching it himself, had a subordinate check its contents.
"Gasp."
Colombo's man gasped at the brilliant golden light that poured out as the box opened.
Colombo picked up one of the gold coins from the box and admired the delicate design engraved on it.
"These aren't simple gold coins, are they?"
"Imperial coins. Their gold content is ten percent higher than those minted in the kingdom, and their actual worth is double—no, depending on the region, even more. You and your friends could feast every day for ten years and still not run short of funds."
The lord said, his smile avuncular.
"It's a bit excessive for a single slave, but what of it? Consider it a show of goodwill to a like-minded junior."
The bandits couldn't hide the grins spreading across their faces.
They had traded slaves many times before, but the price was usually paid in silver coins.
It was certainly a large sum compared to what common folk earned through labor, but it was nothing next to the fortunes handled by nobles and merchant princes.
To the bandits, who had never seen, let alone used, a gold coin in their entire lives, the mountain of gold filling the box seemed like a truly limitless treasure.
"It's not enough. I see you're not as generous as I thought, senior."
And so, when Colombo spoke those words, his men felt their hearts plummet.